You can also find additional information in the
Guide to Hajj (in 8
languages)

We also wish to indicate that Hajj
visas are granted gratis to all Muslim pilgrims and
is NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.

Each applicant for a Hajj visa
must apply through a
qualified America travel agency
, which
has to present the consulate with copies of “Accommodation
Contacts” and a letter of the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia
confirming that the travel agency has duly completed all
requirements to qualify to assist pilgrims.
Applications for Hajj will be not be considered if the following
requirements are not complete:

Passport— Passport or legal travel documents valid for at
least six month and acceptable both for entry to Saudi
Arabia and entry to next destination. Passport of legal
travel documents must have a minimum of two blank pages.

Visa Application
Form ( Acrobat file, 186K
) — A completely filled
application form for Hajj visas singed and stamped by the
travel agency. Original or legible photocopies of the Visa
Application Forms are acceptable.

Airline ticket
— Each applicant must be in
possession of a non-refundable roundtrip ticket with
confirmed reservations.

Meningitis vaccination certificate— Each applicant must
submit proof of vaccination against meningitis and ACYW 135.
All pilgrims must carry these certificates to Saudi Arabia
for inspection by the Saudi Arabian Passport Authority.
Children from the age of two (2) and above must take a dose
of the A/C vaccine and those between the ages three (3)
months and two (2) years must take two doses of the A
vaccine, which requires an interval of three months between
each dose.

Mahram— All ladies are required to travel for Hajj with a
Mahram. Proof of relationship of the Mahram must be
submitted. Ladies over the age of forty five (45) can travel
without a Mahram with an organized group. She must, however,
submit a no objection letter from her husband, son or
brother, authorizing her travel for Hajj with the named
group. Such letter should be notarized by a notary public.
The Mahram should write his complete information on the
applications of wife and children, or any other relative
whom he's traveling with. Marriage and birth certificates
issued outside of the US should be translated and notarized
from a certified translation office.

Bank Drafts— There is no fee for the
Hajj Visa . However, each pilgrim should submit two
checks payable to “Unified Agents Office”
in Jeddah for pilgrimage services. Checks should include the
name of the pilgrim and his/her passport number. Each visa
applicant must pay the following fees:

U.S. $158.40 for services rendered by the local
tawaf agencies and for housing at the Hholy sites.

U.S. $116 for air-conditioned transportation services or
U.S. $92 for non-air-conditioned transportation
services. Children between the ages of seven 7 and
fifteen 15 years old pay only half of the above amount.
Children under the age of seven 7 enter gratis.

Non-U.S. Citizens
— Non-U.S. citizens must submit
a copy of their Green Card or other form of proof that the
applicant is a legal resident of the United States . Saudi
Arabian Passport Authority will return any pilgrim granted a
Hajj visa from the U.S. who is not a legal resident of the
United States .

Males under the legal age will not be granted a Hajj visa if
not accompanied by their family.

No food products are
allowed to be imported in the Kingdom by pilgrims.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

Last Day to enter King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah for the
purpose of Hajj is 4 Dhu Al-Hijjah 1424H ( January 26, 2004
).

Last day to travel from Jeddah to Madinah by car is 26 Dhu
Al-Quada, 1424H ( January 18, 2003 ), by plane is 2 Dhu
Al-Hijjah, 1424H ( January 24, 2004 ).

Last Day to travel from Madinah to Makkah by car before Hajj
is 5 Dhu Al-Hijjah, 1424H ( January 27, 2004 ), and to
travel from Madinah to Jeddah is 6 Dhu Al-Hijjah, 1424H (
January 28, 2004 ).

Pilgrims are advised to carry with them to Saudi Arabia ten
(10) small size (1 inch x 1 inch) photos for use with ID
cards to be issued to them in Saudi Arabia .

Pilgrims must carry with them sufficient amount of money to
cover their expenses. This amount can be in the form of
travelers' checks or international bank drafts.

Upon arrival, pilgrims shall hand their passports to the
custody of the “Unified Agents Office” representatives to
enable the latter to complete all formalities of travel to
Makkah and Madinah.

In case a pilgrim should lose his passport, he should
immediately report the loss to the office appointed upon his
arrival to take care of him during the Hajj. Me must obtain
a certificate from the office of the Unified Agents, in
which the loss of the passport is mentioned.

All pilgrims must leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after
Hajj no later than 10 Muharram, 1425H ( March 1, 2004 ). The
rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia forbid any pilgrim
from staying in the country after the completion of Hajj.

Saudi Authorities will be notified about travel agencies
that don't follow the rules and regulations of Hajj visa
requirements and insists on presenting incomplete
application packages.

Reminder: The laws and regulations of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires that all pilgrims entering the
Kingdom for Hajj comply with and respect the laws, moral values
and customs of Saudi Arabia. It is forbidden to smuggle any
prohibited items such as alcohol, drugs, narcotics, pornographic
material, audio or videotapes, or films. Any type of illegal
drugs and narcotics for personal use or distribution is
punishable by death. Sectarian, political or religious
gatherings are forbidden.

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
in Washington DC takes this opportunity to wish all pilgrims:

A HAPPY HAJJ
AND A SAFE RETURN.

Visa Procedure for Umrah Rerformers
To obtain an Umrah visa, an application must be submitted to the Embassy
or one of the Saudi Consulates in Los Angeles, New York or Houston, by
any company or agency licensed to provide travel and tourism services in
the United States. Such company or agency must have already entered into
contract with a Saudi company or establishment to provide Umrah services
in Saudi Arabia.

An Umrah visa application thus submitted must satisfy the following
conditions:

The applicant should be either a permanent resident of the
United States (i.e. have an American citizenship or Green Card,) or
have any other type of visa proving his/her legal residency in the
United States. Individuals with visitor visas or who are on special
missions in the United States are not entitled to Umrah visas from
the Saudi Embassy or one of its Consulates in the United States.

An applicant must submit an Umrah visa application form
accompanied by a recent standard color passport size photograph.

The applicant's passport must be valid for a minimum period of
six months.

The applicant should satisfy the health requirements including
submitting a certificate of vaccination against meingococcal
meningitis [serogroups A, C, Y, and W 135] which must have been
obtained within the last three years but not sooner than 10 days
prior to his/her arrival in Saudi Arabia. For children age three
months to 12 years, parents should consult their primary care
doctors.

A roundtrip ticket to and from Saudi Arabia with confirmed
reservation must also accompany the application.

A married couple applying for Umrah visas but who have different
last names or whose children bear last names different from that of
their father, should attach copies of their marriage certificates
and/or copies of the birth certificates of their children.

Umrah visas are granted gratis to all Muslims. However, a
cashier check issued by a bank recognized by the Saudi Arabian
Monetary Agency and covering the agreed-upon cost of accommodation,
transportation and other services must be submitted for each Umrah
Performer. Make the check payable to the contracted Saudi company.
When traveling in a group, one check covering the cost of the
services for all members of the group may be accepted. In addition,
the American company may assume the responsibility of issuing a
group check. In all cases, the American company shall be responsible
for submitting the passports and showing proof of transferring the
amount due to the contracted Saudi company. The name of the
contracted Saudi company will be written on the visa page in the
applicant's passport for the purpose of guaranteeing that Umrah
Performers will receive the best possible services and care.

For those who recently embraced Islam and have not previously
performed Umrah or Hajj, a Certificate of Conversion' to Islam is
required.

Travel, Tourism Service Companies & Agencies in the United
States
To obtain an Umrah visa, an application must be submitted to the Embassy
or one of the Saudi Consulates in Los Angels, New York, or Houston, by
any company or agency licensed to provide travel and tourism services in
the United States. Such company or agency must have already entered into
a contract with a Saudi company or establishment licensed to provide
Umrah services in Saudi Arabia. such contrct shall authorize the
American company to act as a representative of the SAudi company in
entering into a contract with the Umrah Performer for the purpose of
providing them with all Umrah services until their return to the United
States. Attached hereto is a list of names and telephone numbers of such
licensed Saudi companies and establishments. Please note that the
contracted Saudi company is not permitted to enter into a contract with
for rendering Umrah services if the American company is obligated to
provide such Umrah services under a separate contract with another Saudi
company.

The parties to the Umrah service contract may draw up the terms and
conditions of their contact as they see fit provided that they comply
with the following:

Adherence to the enforced laws and regulations of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.

Commitment by the American company to the principles and
requirements of integrity and efficiency in providing the Umrah
services.

All disputes between the contracting American and Saudi
companies arising from disagreements over interpretation or
performance of the contract and which cannot be settled amicably,
shall be referred to the concerned authority in the Kingdom or to
the court of arbitration as mandated by the Saudi law of arbitration
and its executive bylaws.

The interpretation and performance of the contract shall be
governed by the laws and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
and in drafting their own contract, the contracting parties may be
guided by the standard contract as prepared by the Saudi Ministry of
Hajj.

The contract shall be prepared in both Arabic and English
languages and should a discrepancy arise between the two versions,
the Arabic version shall prevail.

For the contract between the two parities to be enforceable, it
has to be certified and registered by the Ministry of Hajj.

The service contract between the American and Saudi companies
licensed to provide services to Umrah Performers shall be made of
three originals all of which must be legalized by the concerned
authorities in the United States and by the Embassy of Saudi Arabia
or one of its consulates as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The legalized originals must then be submitted to the Ministry of
Hajj for review, registration and certification. One certified
original shall be deposited with the Ministry of Hajj.

In case the two parties to the service contract agree to the
insertion of any amendment to the contract, the original copy, which
was certified and registered by and deposited with the Ministry of
Hajj must be amended accordingly.